[CW] What is the best telegraph key??

[Sherrill Watkins]

Dear N5DWI: Thank you very much for the information about the Triumph Key. It
is appreciated. Question: I recently acquired an odd designed key made by
Western Electric and stamped as such on the circuit closer. The odd thing is
it has standards that are made separate from the base. The standards are
about 1/2" long x 1/4" diameter. They are attached by screws to the base and
held in alighment by an approx. 1/16" dia rod that runs perpendicular to the
leaver but keeps the standards in alignment with the leaver piviot points.
These standards (or stantions) are threaded with screws that support the
leaver in the usual manner. I have never seen a key like this? Do you have
any idea where I could find any information; perhaps a Western Electric
patent? I don't know where to look? Thank's -73- Sherrill W. k4own.

-----Original Message-----
From: N5DWI [mailto:n5dwi at sbcglobal.net] 
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 7:42 PM
To: CW at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [CW] What is the best telegraph key??


Sherrill,
 
While I share your opinion of it, the "Triumph" didn't actually come out
until 1906. 
 
Below is an excerpt from 

                        http://www.telegraph-history.org/bunnell/index.html
 
Beginning in March of 1906 the Bunnell Co. began putting out teasers to watch
out for their new "Legless Key" that would be the "acme of perfection"
Introduced as "the best regular key made," the Triumph made its debut in
September of 1906. Also introduced was their new logo with "Bunnell" enclosed
in a rectangle on the lever. (Prior to this "PATENTED FEB. 15, 1881 was
stamped on the lever.) The Triumph's rugged base differentiates it from the
skeleton base of the Standard Steel Lever legless key. This new base included
thicker standards, a separate anchor for the circuit closer, and solid
binding post connections to the frame and the lower platina contact. A
glaring difference, though is the introduction of a new style binding post.
When considering all the different binding posts available to Bunnell at this
time, I find it more than coincidence that they selected a style that was
similar to the standard binding post used by The Postal Telegraph Co. 
 
73,
jw N5DWI
 
-------Original Message-------
 
From: Sherrill Watkins
Date: 08/19/04 17:52:20
To: cw at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [CW] What is the best telegraph key??
 
Gentlemen: I still have the opinion that when all is said and done, the best
telegraph (leaver style) key ever made was the "Triumph" style. It was
originally patented about 122 years ago and has never been surpassed for ease
of sending. -73- Sherrill k4own.
_______________________________________________
CW mailing list
CW at mailman.qth.net
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw
 
_______________________________________________
CW mailing list
CW at mailman.qth.net
http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/cw